Train Tickets Available Two Months Ahead, Easing of Marriage-Related Loan Penalties... Everyday Life Changes Starting in October

Reforms in Daily Life: Transportation, Communications, and Housing Finance
Youth Jeonse Guarantee Extended to Age 39
Penalties for Wage Arrears: Up to 5 Years in Prison or 50 Million Won Fine

With the Chuseok holiday now over, here is a summary of system and policy changes coming into effect across daily life, including transport, communications, housing finance, welfare, and government administration, starting in October 2026.

According to government ministries on September 28, starting in October, the age limit for the youth jeonse (monthly rent deposit) loan guarantee will be raised to 39 years old and under, and the income requirement for newlyweds seeking the Bogeumjari Loan will be relaxed. Communications service providers will be required to recommend the most suitable mobile plan, penalties for wage arrears will be strengthened, the income requirement for the advance payment of child support will be eliminated, the character limit for disaster alert texts will be expanded, and the way family relationships are indicated on resident registration documents will change—these reforms will roll out sequentially throughout October.

Advance Train Ticket Sales and Increase in Intercity/Express Bus Fare Caps

Photo of Daejeon Station building to assist understanding of the article. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Starting October 1, KTX and other railway tickets will be available for purchase up to two months prior to departure. Until now, ticket sales opened only one month in advance, making it difficult for travelers to plan compared to booking airline tickets or accommodation. Now, those planning trips in December can secure train tickets as early as October. From January to August this year, 6.69 million foreign visitors used domestic trains in Korea—a 68% increase compared to the same period last year. Tae-byeong Kim, Director of Railroads at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "Extending the ticket reservation period will allow foreign tourists to plan rail travel in Korea from the very stage of buying airline tickets."

On the same day, the fare caps for intercity and express buses will each be raised by 9%. This is the first increase in about three years, following a 5% hike in July 2023. Although the bus industry has demanded increases of 17% for intercity buses and 20.1% for express buses since last year, the government, after cost verification and considering user burden, limited the increase to about half of those requests. The fare caps represent the maximum rates that transportation businesses can charge; not every route will rise by exactly 9%. Actual fares for each route will be determined within the adjusted caps, through procedures set by each region and bus operator.

This fare increase is a response to the growing management burden on bus operators amid falling passenger numbers and declining routes, while labor and fuel costs, among other transportation expenses, have risen. Gu-joong Jang, Director-General for Comprehensive Transport Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, explained, "With key intercity and express bus routes being discontinued due to worsening profitability, a minimal rate increase has become necessary to sustain these vital transportation services in local communities."

Youth Jeonse Guarantee Expansion to Age 39... Bogeumjari Loan Eased for Newlyweds

A view of the apartment complex from Namsan, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

The age limit for the special youth jeonse loan guarantee will be raised from age 34 and under to age 39 and under for young people with no home ownership. The income requirement remains at an annual income of 70 million won or less; however, for newlyweds, the income of just one spouse (not the combined income) will be considered. The maximum loan amount is up to 200 million won, within 90% of the rental deposit, but can be increased to 300 million won for newlyweds and households with children. The guarantee coverage remains at 100%.

The conditions for newlyweds to qualify for the Bogeumjari Loan will also be relaxed. Currently, their combined annual income must be 85 million won or less. Beginning in October, they can still qualify even if their combined income exceeds this threshold, as long as the individual annual income of one spouse is 70 million won or less. Other conditions, such as the home price or existing home ownership, are unchanged. Applicants are encouraged to check detailed requirements through the Korea Housing Finance Corporation and other relevant institutions before applying.

System Overhaul for Single-Parent and Remarried Families Taking Effect on September 29

From September 29, any single-parent family that has not received child support, regardless of income, can apply for advance payment of child support. The advance payment system enables the government to provide up to 200,000 won per month in advance to minor children who have not received support from the non-custodial parent and later recover the funds from that parent. Previously, only households with incomes at 150% or less of the median were eligible; this restriction will be removed. Other requirements, such as holding a child support claim and non-payment verification, remain unchanged.

Also from that day, the indication of “spouse’s child” for stepchildren on resident registration transcripts and summaries will be abolished. All legal family members under the Civil Act, except the applicant and their spouse, will be listed simply as “household member,” while non-family individuals will be designated as “cohabitant.” The previous ordering, where “spouse’s child” was listed after “child,” will be changed to the same rank. Applicants who wish can still obtain transcripts or summaries reflecting detailed relationship information, as in the previous system. Heonbeom Jang, Director-General for Local Administration at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "We hope these changes will help ensure diverse family structures, such as remarried families, are protected from discrimination and disadvantages."

Notable Changes in Telecommunications, Labor, and Public Administration

From October, the three major mobile carriers are required to analyze subscribers’ data usage and other patterns and recommend the most suitable plan. Previously, users had to check their average data usage themselves, making it hard to know if their current plan fit their needs. Now, users need not apply; they only have to choose how to receive the recommendations, such as by text message or email.

From October 8, employers guilty of wage arrears will face up to five years in prison or fines of up to 50 million won. This is a harsher sentence than the previous maximum of three years' imprisonment or fines of up to 30 million won. The Ministry of Employment and Labor said this aims to ensure that employers recognize wage defaults as a significant business expense, thus preventing the issue in advance.

From October, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will increase the character limit for disaster safety text alerts for non-emergency events to 157 characters. This is to enable clear delivery of both the disaster situation and specific safety instructions. Emergency disaster texts follow separate guidelines. The system for checking duplicate or repetitive messages in the same area will also be expanded to prevent redundant notifications.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.